‘Sesame Street’ clarifies Bert and Ernie are not gay, former writer says words were misinterpreted

WATCH: Sesame Street said on Tuesday that beloved characters Bert and Ernie were not a couple, despite a writer saying on Sunday he had always written them as a "loving couple."

Sesame Street reiterated Tuesday that two of the show’s most beloved characters, Bert and Ernie, are merely “best friends” and not a same-sex couple, the same day a former writer said his words were misinterpreted when he hinted the puppets were lovers, an idea that divided the internet.

On Tuesday afternoon, the educational show released a series of statements clarifying the relationship between two fictional characters.

“As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves,” the show said. “Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”

Saltzman told the newspaper that while he did not restrict the puppets to a specific sexual orientation, he feels that the show should include a gay couple, but in human form, not puppets.

However, Saltzman said Bert and Ernie are “two guys who love each other. That’s who they are.”

In a second statement, Sesame Street said the show has “always stood for inclusion and acceptance.”

“Bert and Ernie were created to be best friends, and to teach young children that people can get along with those who are very different from themselves,” Sesame Workshop said.

The puppets have long been speculated to be a same-sex couple, and Bert and Ernie have been an icon in the LGBTQ community. It seems with the recent speculation about the pair, the idea has split people into separate factions: those who support it, those who don’t support it, and those who can’t even believe this is a topic for discussion.